Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell. The solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, conductivity-type regions located in or on the semiconductor substrate, electrodes conductively connected to the conductivity-type regions, and insulating films located on at least one of opposite surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, and including a first film and a second film located on the first film, the second film has a higher carbon content than that of the first film, a refractive index of the second film is equal to or less than a refractive index of the first film, and an extinction coefficient of the second film is equal to or greater than an extinction coefficient of the first film.

Abstract: A solar cell including: a silicon substrate; a back electrode; a doped silicon layer; an upper electrode, wherein the upper electrode includes a plurality of three-dimensional nanostructures extending along a same direction; an electrode lead, wherein a direction of the electrode lead intersects with the direction of the plurality of three-dimensional nanostructures; wherein the three-dimensional nanostructures includes a first rectangular structure, a second rectangular structure, and a triangular prism structure; the first rectangular structure, the second rectangular structure, and the triangular prism structure are stacked, a first width of a bottom surface of the triangular prism structure is equal to a second width of a top surface of the second rectangular structure, and is greater than a third width of a top surface of the first rectangular structure, materials of the first rectangular structure and the triangular prism structure are metal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one method of forming a sol-gel includes mixing a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent to form a first mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the first mixture. The method includes mixing an organosilane with the first mixture to form a second mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the second mixture.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus comprising: a membrane having a first side and a second side, wherein the membrane has first and second pores disposed therein, a processing system; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: setting a first physical characteristic in a vicinity of the first pore to cause a first end of a molecule having the first end and a second end to be moved through the first pore; setting a second physical characteristic in a vicinity of the second pore to cause the second end of the molecule to be moved through the second pore; and adjusting the first physical characteristic to cause the molecule to be tightened, with a first given amount of force, between the first pore and the second pore. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic device that, as compared with a conventional microfluidic device, (i) is smoother in surface of a water-repellent layer provided above a segment electrode and (ii) makes it easier for microfluid provided in the surface of the water-repellent layer to slide. A microfluidic device (1) includes: an array substrate (10) including a plurality of electrodes (14); and a counter substrate (40) including at least one electrode (42), the array substrate (10) and the counter substrate (40) having therebetween an internal space (50) in which to cause an electroconductive droplet (51) to move across the plurality of electrodes (14), and the plurality of electrodes (14) being provided on a first flattening resin layer (13) and each being a light-blocking metal electrode.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an InGaAs buffer layer and an InGaAlAs grading interlayer disposed below, and adjacent to, the InGaAs buffer layer. The grading interlayer achieves a transition in lattice constant from one solar subcell to another solar subcell.

Abstract: Present invention discloses a microfluidic energy harvester for converting solar energy into electrical energy. A preferred embodiment of the present microfluidic energy harvester includes a substrate having an embedded central microchannel, electrolyte configured to reside and/or flow in said central microchannel and electrode assembly having one or more pair of electrodes arranged in a series and integrated with said central microchannel from sides ensuring direct contact between said pair for electrodes with said electrolyte while it reside and/or flow in said central microchannel for ensuing electrochemical photovoltaic effect to convert the solar energy into the electrical energy under direct solar illumination by working under regenerative conditions.

Abstract: Refractive optical element designs are provided for high geometric optical efficiency over a wide range of incident angles. To minimize Fresnel reflection losses, the refractive optical element designs employ multiple encapsulant materials, differing in refractive index. Concentrator photovoltaic subassemblies are formed by embedding a high efficiency photovoltaic device within the refractive optical element, along with appropriate electrical contacts and heat sinks. Increased solar electric power output is obtained by employing a single-junction III-V material structure with light-trapping structures.

Abstract: A silicon solar cell with high photoelectric conversion efficiency is disclosed. A solar cell for converting light incident from an outside into electricity according to the present invention includes a substrate, a lower electrode, a ferroelectric layer, an auxiliary electrode, a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode is formed on the substrate. The ferroelectric layer is formed on the substrate and outside the lower electrode. The auxiliary electrode is formed on the ferroelectric layer. The first conductivity-type semiconductor layer is formed on the lower electrode and the auxiliary electrode. The second conductivity-type semiconductor layer is formed on the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and is composed of a semiconductor of a second conductivity type opposite to a first conductivity type.

Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a microfluidic device. The device comprises a substrate with a microchannel formed as a groove on a main surface of the substrate. The device further comprises one or more conduits extending parallel to the main surface of the substrate, and from a lateral surface of the substrate up to a lateral wall of the microchannel. The one or more conduits are configured so as to allow insertion of one or more electrodes therein, respectively, and such that an end of each of the one or more electrodes can reach into the microchannel. The invention is further directed to related sets of components, which include the above microfluidic device, as well as a housing, with electronics, and, possibly, a porous support (e.g., a membrane) and a cap. Biosensing applications are notably contemplated. The invention is further directed to methods of operating a microfluidic device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for tunable photonic harvesting for solar energy conversion and dynamic shading tolerance are provided herein.

Abstract: A solar cell structure including a solar cell having a front surface and a back surface, a reflective layer disposed proximate the back surface and a flexible support layer disposed between the back surface and the reflective layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a solar cell has base and emitter diffusion regions formed on the back side. The emitter diffusion region is configured to collect minority charge carriers in the solar cell, while the base diffusion region is configured to collect majority charge carriers. The emitter diffusion region may be a continuous region separating the base diffusion regions. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a reduced area to decrease minority charge carrier recombination losses without substantially increasing series resistance losses due to lateral flow of majority charge carriers. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a dot shape, for example.

Abstract: The cell according to the present disclosure has a support body having a length direction and a pair of main surfaces, and an element part in which a first electrode, a solid electrolyte layer having an oxide containing a rare earth element oxide as a main component, and a second electrode are stacked, in that order, on one of the main surfaces of the support body. The cell also has a first layer provided on the other main surface of one end part of the support body in the length direction, which layer contains a different amount of a rare earth element oxide that is the same oxide as the main component of the solid electrolyte layer, and is stronger than the solid electrolyte layer. A second layer is provided between the first layer and the support body, and the second layer has a higher content of a component that is the same as the component contained in the support body than the first layer, and also contains the same component as the first layer.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor (100), comprising a substrate (105), two electrodes (130) and (140) screen printed onto said substrate, an elastomer (150) disposed over one of said plurality of screen printed electrodes, and one or more electroactive species disposed within said elastomer.

Abstract: A photodiode comprising a photoactive spinel oxide layer is described. This photoactive spinel oxide layer forms a contact with both a light absorption layer of quantum dots, quantum wires, or quantum rods, and an inorganic substrate layer. In some embodiments, the inorganic substrate layer and the photoactive spinel oxide layer form an isotype junction. Methods of characterizing the photodiode are provided and demonstrate commercially relevant electrical and optoelectronic properties, particularly the ability to operate as a photodetector with a high photosensitivity. An economical process for preparing the photodiode is provided as well as applications.

Abstract: A photodiode comprising a photoactive spinel oxide layer is described. This photoactive spinel oxide layer forms a contact with both a light absorption layer of quantum dots, quantum wires, or quantum rods, and an inorganic substrate layer. In some embodiments, the inorganic substrate layer and the photoactive spinel oxide layer form an isotype junction. Methods of characterizing the photodiode are provided and demonstrate commercially relevant electrical and optoelectronic properties, particularly the ability to operate as a photodetector with a high photosensitivity. An economical process for preparing the photodiode is provided as well as applications.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for the design and fabrication of arrays of vacuum photodiodes for application to solar power generation. In a preferred embodiment, each photodiode cell comprises a microfabricated enclosure with a hermetically sealed vacuum, an absorptive photocathode, and a transparent anode, wherein the photocathode and the anode are separated by a vacuum gap of less than about 20 micrometers. Light incident on the photocathode through the anode leads to a flux of electrons passing from the photocathode across the vacuum gap to the anode. In a further preferred embodiment, the photocathode is backed by a reflection layer with, e.g., controlled diffuse reflection, thus increasing the efficiency of energy extraction. An array of such cells may be manufactured using automated thin-film deposition and micromachining techniques.

Abstract: A sensor element includes a NOx sensor part, a NH3 gas sensor part, and a single common electrode shared by the both parts. The former has a pump cell including a measurement electrode facing an internal space, a pump electrode formed on a surface of the element, and a solid electrolyte therebetween. The latter includes a sensing electrode formed on a surface of the element and having catalytic activity inactivated for a NH3 gas. The common electrode is located to be in contact with a reference gas. The NOx concentration is determined based on a potential difference occurring between the sensing electrode and the common electrode, and a current flowing through the pump cell in a state of controlling a voltage applied across the electrodes to maintain a potential difference between the measurement electrode and the common electrode constant.